Quick answer
To find buried treasure chests in Fortnite, land on Crossbones Isle, head to The Chest POI or Buried Treasure Island, and dig up sandy mounds with your Pickaxe.
Fortnite’s Treasure Hunters mini-season buried dozens of chests under the sand of Crossbones Isle, but they aren’t spread evenly. Most matches you land somewhere with one or two buried spots and spend half the circle wondering where everyone else is getting their loot.
This walks you through the spots with the heaviest concentration of buried chests, how to tell a buried mound from plain sand, and the quickest way to dig one up before the storm forces you to move.
Before you start
- Difficulty Easy
- Time needed 10 minutes
- Works on Fortnite v43.00+, PC, console, mobile, cloud (Crossbones Isle map)
What you'll need
- Fortnite installed with the v43.00 Treasure Hunters update
- An Epic Games account
- A Pickaxe equipped (default loadout)
Important
- Don't linger at The Chest or Buried Treasure Island once you've looted them — both are popular landing spots and draw early fights.
Dig Up Chests at The Chest POI
The Chest, in the northwest biome, holds the largest cluster of buried chests on the map.
Step 1: Drop from the Going Merry onto Crossbones Isle
At the start of a match you launch from the deck of the Going Merry instead of the old Battle Bus. Mark the northwest corner of the skull-shaped map before you jump.
Tip: Marking your landing spot from the ship makes it easier for squadmates to follow you down.
Step 2: Land on the cliff east of The Chest
Touch down on the cliff above the POI and loot the two chests sitting on top first. This gives you a weapon before you drop into the open sand below.
Step 3: Drop into the water near the One Piece Pirate Chest
Use a Shockwave or Crash Pad to get down safely, then head for the giant One Piece Pirate Chest at the center of the POI. You can’t open this chest, but the sand around it hides most of the area’s loot.
Step 4: Search for sandy mounds
Buried chests sit under slightly raised, disturbed patches of sand rather than flat ground. The Chest POI has around 34 of these mounds scattered around the central chest and the surrounding dunes.
Step 5: Dig each mound with your Pickaxe
Swing your Pickaxe into a mound repeatedly to break it open. Some chests sit on the surface and open normally, while others stay buried until you’ve struck the sand enough times.
Tip: Equip a Fortune Sprite if you have one — its ability reveals nearby chests, including buried ones that are easy to walk past.
Step 6: Rotate once the area is cleared
Nobody clears every chest on an 80-player island in one match. Once you’ve worked through The Chest, move to your next target rather than waiting around for more mounds to appear.
Dig the Buried Treasure Island in the Northeast
The far northeast corner hides a second dense cluster of buried chests, worth the flight if The Chest is already contested.
Step 1: Fly toward the northeast corner of the map
Buried Treasure Island sits in the far northeast, separate from the northeast coast near Fortune’s Fort. Land on the hill next to the island rather than on the island itself.
Step 2: Loot the hill before dropping onto the island
The hill holds 10 to 15 standard chests. Clear these first so you’re armed before dropping down onto the island proper.
Step 3: Drop onto the island and search the sand
Once you’re on the island, look for the same raised mounds you’d find at The Chest. This spot holds more than 30 buried chests, making it one of only two locations worth a dedicated flight.
Step 4: Dig and rotate before the storm closes in
Break open each mound with your Pickaxe, then check the storm circle before committing to another pass. Plan your digging stops away from where the storm is about to close, since this corner of the map sits far from the center.
Pro tips
- Fortune's Fort, Lantern Landing and Loguetown have zero buried chests, so skip them if you're hunting specifically for buried loot.
- A realistic full-squad route covers 30 to 50 chests in a match, so pick two or three POIs instead of trying to cover the whole island.
- Cursed Cavern holds four buried chests, a smaller but still worthwhile stop if The Chest is crowded.
- The Fortune Sprite's reveal ability works on any nearby chest, buried or not, making it worth equipping before you start digging.
- You can view Crossbones Isle's layout on the Fortnite Interactive Map, though POI names there may lag behind the latest in-game update.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| You can't tell buried chests from plain sand | Look closely for mounds that sit slightly raised or disturbed compared to the flat sand around them, or equip a Fortune Sprite to reveal nearby chests automatically. |
| An area runs out of chests mid-match | Move to another POI instead of waiting; sandy mounds don't respawn with new chests during a match. |
| The storm is closing in while you're still digging | Check the storm circle before starting a new mound and leave extra time to rotate out of the northeast island, since it sits far from the map's center. |
Frequently asked questions
Where are the most buried chests in Fortnite right now?
The Chest POI in the northwest biome has the heaviest concentration, with around 34 buried chests, followed by Buried Treasure Island in the northeast with more than 30.
Do I need a map item to find buried chests?
No. Current reports describe digging sandy mounds directly rather than following a dotted map trail, unlike the older Chapter 1 Season 8 treasure map mechanic.
What tool do I use to dig up buried chests?
Your default Pickaxe. Strike a sandy mound repeatedly and it opens like a normal chest.
Can I open the giant One Piece Pirate Chest at The Chest POI?
No, that chest is a non-interactive landmark. The buried chests scattered around it are what you actually loot.
Does a Fortune Sprite help with buried chests specifically?
Yes, its reveal ability shows nearby chests including buried ones, which makes mounds easier to spot in open sand. See our guide on how to collect all Treasure Hunters Sprites for how to get one.
Once you’ve got The Chest and the northeast island down, branch out to smaller spots like Cursed Cavern for extra buried loot, and check our Fortnite Treasure Hunt Chest Locations and Rewards Guide for what each chest type tends to drop.
Sources and further reading
- Winalia — Fortnite Treasure Hunters: Release Time, Crossbones Isle Map
- Fortnite Pirate Shop Token Guide — Fortnite Pirate Shop Token: How to Get It & Chest Routes
- Beebom — Fortnite One Piece Pirate Chest Location (and What It Does)
- FortniteTools — Fortnite Interactive Map – Treasure Hunters, Crossbones Isle & POIs
